"A personal, introspective song with gracious vocals, grounded in sparse music terrain - most inviting and endearing" ~ Amplify Music Magazine
"Wonderful slice of ambient atmospherics... calming and elegiac" ~ With Just a Hint of Mayhem
"Highly melodic... charismatic vocals and sweet vocal harmonies" ~ Loud Sounds 8
"Captivating... Home floats on dreampop clouds, whilst drifting towards ambient-pop. Through the pensive lyrics, and sparse soundscape, Home takes you to a reverie retreat, a place of reflection, that uplifts and lingers with a haunting beauty" ~ The Manc Review
British indiepop trio 22 Oceans has announced their partnership with British charity Stonepillow, donating all proceeds from Bandcamp sales - both for digital downloads and CDs - of their new 'Home' EP.
Stonepillow empower homeless and vulnerable people towards achieving sustainable independence and wellbeing. Providing support year-round across Chichester and Arun, they aid the homeless, facilitating a complete recovery journey focused on improving health and wellbeing, and moving towards sustainable independence. Partnering with other agencies across West Sussex, they provide essential support for at-risk people, including safe, secure, high-quality accommodation, as well as mental health support, recovery and wellbeing, and provision of fresh food and essential provisions.
Based in Merseyside, 22 Oceans is the brainchild of Mike Guy. Originally a solo project, 22 Oceans has blossomed into a fruitful trio, graced by the vocal and songwriting talents of twin sisters Carys and Keeley Hughes, whose stellar tandem of vocal harmonies complement a backdrop of lush, layered sounds.
"People who don’t have stable living conditions are always longing for a place to call home, and I thought that music would be a good way to spread awareness to this subject. With homelessness, more people are waiting to feel happy with where they choose to sleep at night, and ‘Home’ was influenced by this topic. I hope that it gives people an idea about how important It is to have a secure environment to return to at the end of the day, and how vital it is for people to have a place to go where they can feel safe and protected," says Carys Hughes.
Their new 5-track 'Home' EP was released via 72rpm Records and mastered by renowned producer Marc Joy (Primal Scream, Mike Peters, Oasis, Bernard Butler, Golden Fable, Louise Trehy) at Ferndale Studios in Wales.
Since emerging on the indie music scene in 2020, 22 Oceans has been presenting a steady string of new music. While influenced by 80’s influenced synthpop, their new single brings this artist into new territory while retaining their trademark ethereal vocals.
Earlier, 22 Oceans released the singles 'Drifting' and 'Broken' feat. Jo Madden. The early 2020 'Butterfly Candy' EP saw Mike Guy collaborate with Wales-based dreampop artist Lights That Change, while the subsequent 'Paradise' EP featured Liverpool vocalist Rachael Dunn and also involved Orchestral Manoeuvres In the Dark (OMD) co-founder and drummer Malcolm Holmes.
"The song is rooted in the feeling of happiness you feel when thinking about the memories you’ve made with people you enjoy spending time with. It is a reflection of how we are always connected to those we love, no matter how much time may have passed," says Mike Guy.
'Home' is out now, available as a single across online stores and streaming platforms, including Apple Music and Spotify. The trio is also offering 'Home' as a full 5-track EP, available both digitally and on CD exclusively via Bandcamp.
CREDITS
Written and Performed by Mike Guy, Carys Hughes, Keeley Hughes
Carys Hughes – Vocals, Keyboards
Keeley Hughes – Vocals, Guitar
Mike Guy – Keyboards, Programming
Produced by 22 Oceans
Recorded at Long Spinney Studio
Mastered by Marc Joy at Ferndale Studios
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